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Few coins occupy the same place in American numismatics as the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Often regarded as the most beautiful coin ever produced by the United States Mint, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle represents the pinnacle of American coin design. This MS64-graded example, certified by either NGC or PCGS, combines nearly one ounce of gold with historical significance, artistic excellence, and certified collector quality. Struck between 1907 and 1933, each coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold and features the iconic designs created by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. More than a century after its introduction, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle remains one of the most sought-after gold coins in the world.
In the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt believed American coins lacked the artistic quality found in ancient Greek and European coinage.Determined to elevate the nation's currency, he turned to Augustus Saint-Gaudens, widely considered America's greatest sculptor of the era.Roosevelt challenged Saint-Gaudens to redesign U.S. gold coinage, creating pieces that would reflect the nation's growing prominence and cultural maturity.The result was the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, a coin so ambitious and artistic that it transformed American numismatic design forever.Although Saint-Gaudens completed the project, he passed away in August 1907, just weeks before the coin officially entered circulation.
Obverse Design: Liberty in Motion
The obverse features Lady Liberty striding confidently forward, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left.Behind her, rays of sunlight rise across the horizon while the U.S. Capitol appears in the distance. Unlike earlier American coinage that relied on static portraits, Saint-Gaudens created a dynamic and powerful image filled with movement and symbolism. Liberty's forward stride reflects progress, optimism, and national strength at the dawn of the twentieth century.The design remains one of the most celebrated images ever placed on a U.S. coin.
Reverse Design: The American Eagle
The reverse depicts a majestic bald eagle soaring above the rising sun. The eagle appears in full flight, symbolizing freedom, power, and the nation's aspirations. Beginning in 1908, the reverse also included the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, positioned above the sun's rays. The combination of dramatic relief, detailed engraving, and balanced composition has made the reverse equally admired among collectors. Another distinctive feature of the series is its lettered edge, which carries the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM separated by stars—a design element rarely seen on modern U.S. coinage.
Saint-Gaudens originally envisioned the coin in ultra-high relief, inspired by the ancient Greek coins he admired. Early examples required multiple strikes to bring out the full detail of the design. While these high-relief coins are now among the rarest and most valuable U.S. coins, they proved impractical for large-scale production. Chief Engraver Charles Barber subsequently modified the design to a lower relief format that could be produced efficiently for circulation. Even in its modified form, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle retained much of its sculptural beauty and remains a benchmark for coin artistry.
The series concluded in 1933 during the Great Depression.That year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, requiring most privately held gold coins to be surrendered to the government. As a result, millions of gold coins were melted, including nearly all 1933 Double Eagles.The surviving examples became some of the most famous rarities in numismatic history. In 2021, a legally owned 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle sold at auction for over $18.8 million, setting a world record for the most expensive coin ever sold.
This coin has been certified as MS64 (Mint State 64) by either NGC or PCGS, the two leading third-party grading services.
For a coin produced more than 90 years ago, an MS64 designation represents exceptional preservation and collector appeal.
Each Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle contains:
Because these coins combine substantial gold content with strong numismatic demand, they appeal to both investors and collectors seeking a tangible piece of American history.
Few coins occupy the same place in American numismatics as the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Often regarded as the most beautiful coin ever produced by the United States Mint, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle represents the pinnacle of American coin design. This MS64-graded example, certified by either NGC or PCGS, combines nearly one ounce of gold with historical significance, artistic excellence, and certified collector quality. Struck between 1907 and 1933, each coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of gold and features the iconic designs created by renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. More than a century after its introduction, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle remains one of the most sought-after gold coins in the world.
In the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt believed American coins lacked the artistic quality found in ancient Greek and European coinage.Determined to elevate the nation's currency, he turned to Augustus Saint-Gaudens, widely considered America's greatest sculptor of the era.Roosevelt challenged Saint-Gaudens to redesign U.S. gold coinage, creating pieces that would reflect the nation's growing prominence and cultural maturity.The result was the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, a coin so ambitious and artistic that it transformed American numismatic design forever.Although Saint-Gaudens completed the project, he passed away in August 1907, just weeks before the coin officially entered circulation.
Obverse Design: Liberty in Motion
The obverse features Lady Liberty striding confidently forward, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left.Behind her, rays of sunlight rise across the horizon while the U.S. Capitol appears in the distance. Unlike earlier American coinage that relied on static portraits, Saint-Gaudens created a dynamic and powerful image filled with movement and symbolism. Liberty's forward stride reflects progress, optimism, and national strength at the dawn of the twentieth century.The design remains one of the most celebrated images ever placed on a U.S. coin.
Reverse Design: The American Eagle
The reverse depicts a majestic bald eagle soaring above the rising sun. The eagle appears in full flight, symbolizing freedom, power, and the nation's aspirations. Beginning in 1908, the reverse also included the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, positioned above the sun's rays. The combination of dramatic relief, detailed engraving, and balanced composition has made the reverse equally admired among collectors. Another distinctive feature of the series is its lettered edge, which carries the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM separated by stars—a design element rarely seen on modern U.S. coinage.
Saint-Gaudens originally envisioned the coin in ultra-high relief, inspired by the ancient Greek coins he admired. Early examples required multiple strikes to bring out the full detail of the design. While these high-relief coins are now among the rarest and most valuable U.S. coins, they proved impractical for large-scale production. Chief Engraver Charles Barber subsequently modified the design to a lower relief format that could be produced efficiently for circulation. Even in its modified form, the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle retained much of its sculptural beauty and remains a benchmark for coin artistry.
The series concluded in 1933 during the Great Depression.That year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, requiring most privately held gold coins to be surrendered to the government. As a result, millions of gold coins were melted, including nearly all 1933 Double Eagles.The surviving examples became some of the most famous rarities in numismatic history. In 2021, a legally owned 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle sold at auction for over $18.8 million, setting a world record for the most expensive coin ever sold.
This coin has been certified as MS64 (Mint State 64) by either NGC or PCGS, the two leading third-party grading services.
For a coin produced more than 90 years ago, an MS64 designation represents exceptional preservation and collector appeal.
Each Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle contains:
Because these coins combine substantial gold content with strong numismatic demand, they appeal to both investors and collectors seeking a tangible piece of American history.
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